Move to tackle anxiety drug’s overuse

AN initiative to crack down on over-prescription of powerful tranquillising drugs will be finalised by the Department of Health later this month.

Minister of State for Primary Care Roisin Shortall said she is determined to tackle over-prescription of benzodiazepines, as consumption of the drug is “unacceptably high”.

As highlighted in a special investigation in the Irish Examiner last month, drugs to treat mental health problems cost over €113 million a year, with 14,000 prescriptions for anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, anti-psychotics and sleeping tablets written every day.